TESTER INFORMATION

I
started backpacking in Wisconsin as a youth, being involved in the Boy
Scouts programs. As a young adult, I worked at a summer camp leading
backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking trips. I now generally take
short weekend or day trips in rough, mountainous terrain, although I
have extensive experience in the upper Midwest as well. I take one or
two longer trips each year, where I typically carry about 40 lb (18
kg). I prefer to be prepared and comfortable, but I have taken
lightweight trips as well.

Product Description

The Obermeyer Kestral Insulated
Jacket, hereafter referred to as the "Kestral" or "jacket," is an
insulated, hooded winter jacket. The Kestral is a
waterproof jacket, courtesy of the DWR finish, Duroguard. The
jacket also uses a microporous coating called Hydroblock that helps
prevent water from coming through the pores while allowing water vapor
to escape. The shell is made from the EcoGenesis stretch fabric
and is 100% polyester. EcoGenesis is a fabric made from recycled
PET bottles, which I think is pretty cool! The jacket arrived
with five
hangtags affixed to the zipper of the left pocket. One is for
pricing, another for Thinsulate, one for RECCO and the other two for
various features of the jacket from Obermeyer. The
jacket features a full-length zipper down the front with a generous
storm flap held tight by six hoop-and-loop closures. The zipper
pull is sturdy and large enough to grasp with gloves and mittens.
A nice touch is that the top of the zipper is lined with fleece
so my chin shouldn't be rubbed raw in the cold! The manufacturer
also points out that the collar provides wind protection and is
fleece-lined all the way around. There is a removable hood that
is oversized to fit a ski helmet underneath. The hood is held in
place by a YKK zipper as well as several hook-and-loop closures.
The hood is adjustable 2 ways; first to cinch around my face and
second to pull the hood back. This latter feature is helpful when
there isn't a helmet on my head. I've been told I have a big
head, but not THAT big!

Zippered pocket in sleeve

The
jacket body has nice, clean lines. There are pockets for my hands
that are fleece-lined and zippered. Inside the right pocket there
is a clip for keys. Inside the left pocket is a D-ring.
There are also chest pockets on both sides of the jacket.
The right side has a waterproof zipper. The left pocket is
a standard zippered pocket, but does have a storm flap over it.
It also has a goggle cloth that is affixed to an elastic strip by
a simple snap. In both of these pockets, the zipper pulls are
courtesy of cordage with a plastic nub to make it easy to grasp.
There are also zippered armpits for ventilation. These pits
have a mesh fabric and extend 14 in (36 cm) lengthwise and about 3 in
(8 cm) wide at the center.

One other unique zippered
pocket is on the left arm. It has a 6 in (15 cm) zippered opening
and a pocket deep enough for my iPhone. I'm not quite sure what I
will use that for yet. As for the cuffs of the Kestral, they are
gusseted with adjustable, hook and loop closures. They also
feature an inner cuff that is fleece-lined with a stretch fabric.
This is a great touch, especially when I am snowboarding!

I
should also point out that the Kestral utilizes RECCO avalanche
recovery system. While this is not a typically viable rescue
system in the backcountry in the unfortunate avalanche tragedy, it is
comforting to know that should I use this jacket on the resort slopes
here in Colorado. I have no plans to use this feature, so
hopefully I will have nothing more to say on the matter!

The
insulation is courtesy of Thinsulate. I can feel the insulation
throughout the jacket and it does give the Kestral some heft. The
inside of the jacket is partly fleece-lined with the remaining fabric a
soft and smooth synthetic. This fabric has some patterns and the
Obermeyer name printed on it. There is a nice 6 x 4 in (15 x 10
cm) yellow patch near the nape of my neck that has the same pattern and
name on it as well, Below the patch are tags with the sizing and
materials used. Further down, at the base of the jacket are
several other tags; one for care instruction, one for Thinsulate and
the last one for the government regulators ("this tag not to be
removed...").

There are two interior mesh pockets as well.
The first one is on the right side and is oversized to
accommodate goggles. The other pocket is on the left side and is
zippered with the same water resistant zipper as some of the outside
pockets. Inside this pocket is another pocket made of fleece
ideal for holding electronics, such as my phone or music player.
This pocket has an elastic strip sewn into the opening to help
keep items in one place. Just above the mesh pocket is a small
fabric loop. This loop would be ideal to string my headphones
through so the wire doesn't pull on my ears as I ride or hike.

There
is a powder skirt also included with the Kestral. It has snaps
that keep it tucked away in the back but then also to connect it around
my waist when I am snowboarding. The powder skirt also has an
elastic band that has a side that "grips" my clothing, helping it to
stay put and the snow out. Beneath the powder skirt but
easily accessible is another adjustable drawcord for the hem.

According
to the manufacturer, the jacket comes fully seam sealed. According to
the website, the manufacturer has a lifetime warranty for manufacturer
defects. The language is very inviting, which is pretty neat to
see.

Features from left to right: goggle cloth, interior mesh pocket with fleece pocket, under arm ventilation.

Initial Impressions

Drawcord in back of hood.

One
thing that is quickly apparent is how well the jacket is constructed.
There are no loose threads, the quality of craftsmanship is
superior and the fabric chosen seems to be of a very high quality.
The jacket barely looks thicker than a shell so it is heavier
than it first looks. I don't find it to be excessively hefty,
however.

My first hike
with the Kestral was just a short hike with my dogs in the
neighborhood. It was just above freezing, so an ideal opportunity
for a brisk walk! The hood is really big and it kept flopping
into my face until I could find the "sweet spot" by adjusting the
drawcords. The brim is not especially stiff but holds a shape
pretty well. I should also say that the insulation is excellent!
I could not feel any drafts, stayed warm and didn't feel sweaty
inside.

I
usually size up for shells so that I have space for additional layers.
Because this is an insulated jacket I wasn't sure if I would need
that, but I decided to go with a larger size anyway. I don't
think it will be an issue since the fit is pretty good. I
definitely have space for another layer or two and the jacket hangs
nice on me. I can imagine that it could easily get warm under a
backpack so I am anxious to get out in the field and start testing it!

Field Report

Field Conditions

Since
receiving the Kestral jacket, I have been on three backpacking trips,
all of them in Colorado. I have also used the jacket while
snowboarding on four different occasions; one of which involved
backcountry snowboarding. The jacket has accompanied me on
three day hikes, as well as frequently in town.

My
first trip was an overnight to Jasper Lake with a small group of
friends in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Colorado. This hike was
a round trip of 8.9 mi (14.3 km) to a lake at 10,814 ft (3,296 m).
The temperature was near 45 F (7 C) during the day and down to 20
F (-7 C) overnight. I had pretty clear skies the whole time, but
there was a little snow along the trail at times; it has been a dry
winter so far. I wore the jacket on and off during the hike up,
with a base layer and fleece vest underneath.

My
second trip was an overnight hike to summit Shawnee Peak in the Lost
Creek Wilderness in Colorado. This 13 mi (21 km) hike, round
trip, took me to the top of the 11,917 ft (3,632 m) peak where I camped
at 10,660 ft (3,250 m). Elevation gain was a little over 3,000 ft
(900 m). I experienced strong winds, some good snowfall of 6 in
(15 cm) and temperatures between 10 and 40 F (-12 and 4 C). I
wore the jacket over a base layer, another shirt and occasionally a
fleece jacket. I also used a neck gaiter and a fleece cap.

Stopping to enjoy the view along the Colorado Trail with Buster

My
final trip was a leisurely 2 night trip along the first segment of the
Colorado Trail. This hike ended up being 13.3 mi (21.4 km) along
some easier terrain than the other trips, but still saw some elevation.
I camped at between 6,500 and 7,000 ft (1,980 and 2,130 m) along
the way. I had fantastic weather for January in the mountains; a
high of 55 F (13 C) and overnight lows near 30 F (-1 C). I saw
mostly sunshine with some clouds. Frankly, I used the jacket
sparingly during this hike as my 40 lb (18 kg) pack contributed to me
sweating too much to wear the jacket along the hike. It was a
welcome treat when I sat down to rest, however! In the image to
the right, I put the jacket back on while I was taking a short rest
along the trail.

Along
with the backpacking, I wore the Kestral while snowboarding at Winter
Park resort in Colorado on three trips so far this year. I also
went backcountry snowboarding at Berthoud Pass (near Winter Park).
There was a bit of light snow falling on and off throughout the
day, with a temperature of around 30 F (-1 C). I wore a base
layer and a heavy shirt under the jacket and was plenty warm. I
have also been on four other day hikes, three in Colorado under similar
conditions to my backpacking trips, but also one in Wisconsin while
visiting during the holidays. On this hike, we ran into a little
rain, although the temperature was about 45 F (7 C).

Observations

I
am not at all surprised by the exceptional quality of this jacket so
far. Our weather in Colorado has been quite mild, with the
exception of a couple of nasty cold spells, -5 F (-21 C). There
has been far too little precipitation, although I have done well timing
a few of my trips to get the most exposure. While hiking, I find
that a midweight or expedition-weight base layer and a fleece
vest are just about the perfect combination with this jacket. When
hiking in anything over 35 F (2 C), the jacket came off in decent,
precipitation-free weather. I did use some heavier layers in some
of the coldest weather, but that was actually when I was in town.
Opening up the chest and the pit zips really makes a difference in
regulating my body heat.

There
are a couple of added features that I wasn't sure would translate well
for backpacking, but frankly have been handy. The soft cloth in
the zippered chest pocket has been handy for wiping off my sunglasses
when I get too warm. I suppose it could double as a handkerchief
in a pinch for runny noses, but I didn't need to turn to that!
Similarly, the lined pocket for electronics did a great job of
keeping my iPhone dry, even when sweating while hiking some steep
terrain. I do like to store snacks in the internal pockets in the
winter to keep them from freezing. So far, the jacket has kept
them warm enough to not break any teeth <grin>!

Under
a heavy pack, this jacket is as comfortable as any other than I have
worn. The fabric is soft and smooth and there are no odd seams to
cause any chafing under the straps. I have full range of motion
while moving; hiking and snowboarding.

Hiking up to Shawnee Peak - the calm before the storm!

I
really came to appreciate this jacket while hiking Shawnee Peak,
however. Even with strong wind gusts and bitterly cold
temperatures, my body stayed quite comfortable. I started the
trail with mild temperatures and only moderate snow on the trails, as
the image to the left shows. Even though the collar of the jacket
rides high, I did find that I
liked to have a neck gaiter to help cover parts of my face in the wind.
Once the snow started to fall I also got a taste of how well the
jacket keeps the precipitation out as well. The Kestral easily
sheds snow and I remained dry throughout the hike, well except for
perspiration! In the mild, drizzling rain I experienced, the
jacket kept me dry as well. At first, the water beads fell off
the jacket quickly, but over time the shell seem to hold a little bit
of the water (it just looked wet), but I never felt the water come
through the jacket at all.

I
love that the hood is removable for a couple of reasons. On some
of my day hikes, I knew that the weather would be mild, so leaving the
hood at home saved some weight that I just didn't need to carry.
I also like the flexibility while wearing the jacket in town.
After hitting the slopes in Winter Park, I could remove the hood,
wear a beanie and hit the apres ski in style! Taking the hood on
and off is really easy. However, on a couple of occasions, the
hook and loop tabs have come disconnected. It did not impact the
performance at all. I really like how easy to operate the
zippers are. I have struggled with zippers on other jackets from
time to time, but these are superb.

I
was a bit nervous that I may have gotten a jacket that was a little too
big for me; my size is right on the edge between a L and an XL.
While I am not swimming in the jacket, I do wonder if I could
have gone down a size since I haven't needed to add multiple,
bulky layers. I have a nice, down jacket that I have been taking
along that seems to be getting neglected!

The
jacket has been quite durable. Hiking winter trails in Colorado
can be tricky. Because the summer trail disappears and reappears,
it is easy to get off track and have to bushwhack through all sorts of
shrubs. Despite this, the jacket has no tears or other obvious
signs of wear. The cuffs are starting to look a little dirty
now, so I will likely test out the manufacture's recommended
instructions for washing the jacket. Despite the lack of
laundering so far, the jacket does not seem to be retaining any odors
either.

Long Term Report

Field Conditions

Taking some turns in the trees while at Uncle Bud's Hut

Over the past two months, I have
been on two more backpacking trips in Colorado. I have also used the
jacket snowboarding on several more occasions as well as three more day
hikes. The temperatures in Denver have been a bit up and down, but
much of it up; over 60 F (16 C). Combined, my total use has put
me at 7 nights (12 days) backpacking, 7 snowboarding outings, and 6
separate day hikes, some of which included snowshoeing. I have worn the jacket
at least another 20 days during the test.

My first trip was a two-night hut trip near Leadville,
Colorado. We skinned/snowshoed 6 mi (10 km) to Uncle Bud’s Hut and
spent the second day backcountry snowboarding, leaving by the same
route on the third day.Temperatures were anywhere from 5 to 30 F (-15 to -1 C) and we had a mix of sunshine and snow with some moderate to heavy winds.While
snowshoeing, I was able to enjoy wearing just a base layer underneath the
jacket, with the jacket open as well as the pit zips. When I was
snowboarding, I wore a fleece vest as well as a base layer and I was
comfortable.

My
final trip was a short overnight up towards Pikes Peak via the standard
Barr Trail. I enjoyed staying at the Barr Camp the last trip I
took, but this time I slept indoors at their backcountry lodge rather
than outside in a tent. I saved weight and got fresh pancakes in
the morning as well! The weather
was snowy, and temperatures hovered around 20 F (-4 C). Barr
Camp is approximately 6.5 mi (10.5 km) from the trail head in Manitou
Springs. Elevation gain is 3,800 ft (1,160 m), and the camp elevation
is 10,200 feet (3,109 meters).

Observations

I
am a big fan of this jacket after four months of use. The jacket
has performed just as well as it did during the first half of the test.
I love that the stretch fabric allows me to twist and turn while
snowboarding in the backcountry. As a frequent traveler in the
mountains in the winter, I appreciate that this jacket can handle a
multitude of duties. This is a great jacket on the slopes, but
equally great while mountaineering and hiking in the backcountry.
While warm, the Kestral does an incredible job of allowing moisture
to escape. I could tell that I was really sweating at times, but
even when I stopped to hydrate, eat or catch my breath, the insulation
kept me from getting the chills.

Even in heavy snow, the Kestral keeps a smile on my face

I have come to appreciate the many
features in this jacket. I carry along ski goggles when I hike high up
in the mountains. The goggle pocket was actually really nice on my trip
up to Pikes Peak. While the snow was heavy at times, I was overheating
too much and just had to take my goggles off. It was great to be able
to stash them close by because when the winds picked up I just reached
in and put them back on. Having the goggle wipes close-by was a great
feature as well. I've decided that the best use for me with the pocket
on the left arm is for my handkerchief. it makes it accessible and yet
it won't mix with anything else in my other pockets.

I
did manage to wash my jacket per the manufacturer's directions.
Waterproofing wasn't an issue so I used Dreft as suggested since
I had some handy in the house. I will say that line drying the
jacket did take some time. I washed it in the morning and when I
went to bed the jacket was still damp in places. I decided to
turn the jacket inside out and by the morning the jacket was dry.
In the end, the jacket looked good as new and all the zippers
worked just fine.

I
could only find one minor issue with the jacket in all of my time using
it. The armpit zippers have a tendency to get caught on the mesh
fabric when I am zipping them back up. This doesn't happen each time,
rather it happens only once every five-or-so times. It is a drag
since when I am trying to zip them up it is because I am a little
chilly. The only way to get the zipper unstuck is to stop and
take the jacket off, or ask my hiking buddies to help me.

Summary

This is by far the best winter
jacket I have used, ever. It is durable, warm, and yet can be
used in a good range of winter weather activities. I plan to keep
this jacket as my go-to jacket in the winters from here on out. While
springtime has started, a number of my upcoming trips are likely to
still see snow or subfreezing temperatures. I intend to keep this
one handy for a few more months just in case.

Pros:
Excellent construction, warm, and superior protection from the
elements. The Kestral has well-placed pockets, useful features
and the stretch fabric is excellent for active uses.

Cons: Pit zips occasionally stick to the mesh.

This concludes my report. I would like to thank Obermeyer for their generosity as well
as the folks at BackpackGearTest.org
for allowing me to be a part of this test series.

Product tested and reviewed in each Formal Test Report has been provided free of charge by the manufacturer to BackpackGearTest.org. Upon completion of the Test Series the writer is permitted to keep the product. Owner Reviews are based on product owned by the reviewer personally unless otherwise noted.